A 26-year-old burglar who targeted a number of elderly and vulnerable people in the Ordsall and Retford area has been jailed for three years and four months.
Jason Ramsdale, of Brecks Road in Ordsall, pleaded guilty to seven burglaries and six counts of handling stolen goods committed between March 5 and July 14.
Nottingham Crown Court heard that Ramsdale had stolen thousands of pounds worth of jewellery and cash during the burglaries.
Speaking after his sentencing on Wednesday (November 1) Detective Superintendent Andrew Gowan said: “Ramsdale’s actions were totally despicable in how he targeted elderly and vulnerable people.
“We hope his sentencing brings them some comfort in knowing he is now behind bars.
“I would like to thank the community for their patience during this complex investigation and also our officers who worked tirelessly on this case which enabled us to charge Ramsdale and bring him before the courts.”
Most of the victims, but not all, were able to recover their stolen property after attending a police open day during which items recovered from a search of Ramsdale’s address in Ordsall were on display.
Ramsdale was initially charged after his DNA was recovered from one house he had burgled.
Further investigations were carried out which identified a further 14 burglaries which he was evidentially linked to.
All the properties targeted by Ramsdale were unoccupied at the time.
During his police interview Ramsdale denied being responsible for the burglaries.
He said he’d been in possession of the items as they were brought to his home by another person who asked if he wanted to buy any of them.
Ramsdale claimed he wasn’t told any of the items were stolen and the person who brought them to his address never returned to collect them.